Hinge plate switch structure

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to improvements in door hinge structures and more particularly to improvements in door hinges adapted to control electrical circuits. The hinge disclosed herein includes a pair of hingedly connected hinge plates or leaves having in association therewith contact means for opening and closing an electrical circuit, one hinge leaf being mountable upon the vertical edge of the door and the other mountable upon a door frame.

United States Patent 1191 Foltz 1 51 Apr. 24, 1973 154] HINGE PLATESWITCH- STRUCTURE 2,794,085 5/1957 De Angelis ..200/61.7 x 2,921,155 11960 Basso ....200/61.76X [75] Inventor steflmg l"- 3,190,982 6/1965Woodcock ..200/6l.81 [73] Assignee: Lawrence Brothers, Inc., Sterling,595,963 12/1897 gh .8 [1L 2,710,329 6/1955 Herterick ..200/6l.82X

[22] Filed: 1.971 Primary Examiner-J. R. Scott [21] Appl. NoL: 175,148Attorney-Roy H. Olson et a1.

52 U.S. c1. ..200/61.7, ZOO/61.82, 339/4 [57] ABSTRACT [51] lnt.Cl......H0lh 3/16 The present invention relates generally to improve- [58]Field of Search ..200/8 R, 8 A, 6 A, ments in door hinge structures andmore particularly 200/61.64-61.83; 339/4 toimprovements in door hingesadapted to control electrical circuits. The hinge disclosed hereinincludes [56] References Cited a pair of hingedly connected hinge platesor leaves having in association therewith contact meansfor UNITED STATESPATENTS opening and closing an electrical circuit, one hinge 1,902,1953/1933 Swahn ..339/4X leaf being mountable upon the vertical edge of the3,238,316 3/1966 door and the other mountable upon a door frame.2,810,114 10/1957 3,124,950 3/1964 Nallinger ..200/8 R X 3 Claims, 11Drawing Figures Patented April 24, 1973 3,729,603

2 sheetsr-sheet l kbfi Patented April 24, 1973 2 Shets-Sheet 2 1 HINGEPLATE SWITCH STRUCTURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention isconcerned primarily with provision of simple and very practical doorhinge arrangement adapted to control the opening and closing of anelectrical circuit as an incident to the opening and closing of a doormember with which the hinge may be associated.

' More specifically, the present invention contemplates a hinge designof the above mentioned type, wherein the hinge leaves are equipped witha novel arrangement of relatively shiftable contact actuating means,adapted upon the swinging of the door member between open and closedposition to condition an electrical circuit. I

Still more specifically, the present invention envisions a unique,telescopic arrangement of electrical actuating elements associated withhinge leaves which serve effectively to open and close an electricalcircuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects andadvantages of the present invention will be more readily understood whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a door member and frameequipped with a hinge structure which is representative of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the novel hinge structurecontemplated by the present invention;

FIG. 3, is a fragmentary plan view of the hinge device illustrated inFIG. 2, when said hinge is in a closed position,-said view being takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, is a fragmentary sectional view taken longitudinally of thetelescopic contact actuating elements;

FIG. 5, is a fragmentary perspective view of a door member and frameequipped with a hinge device of modified form contemplated by thepresent invention;

FIG. 6, is an enlarged perspective view of the modified hinge device;

FIG. 7, is a side elevation view of a Microswitch associated with ahinge leaf secured to a door frame;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, disclosing the leaf springoperatively engaging a switch actuating plunger;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the switch device illustrated in FIGS. 7 an 8;

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the switch actuating plunger; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating a further modifiedform of switch mechanism secured to a hinge leaf.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsmore in detail, wherein like numerals are employed to designate similarparts throughout the various views, it will be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4inclusive, that one embodiment of a novel hinge device contemplated bythe present invention is. designated generally by the numeral 12. InFIG. 1, the hinge device 12 is illustrated in operative association withthe vertical edge 14 of a door member l6 and a vertical door framemember 18. A conventional hinge device 20 is attached to the lowerportion of the door edge 14 and the door frame 18.

The hinge device 12 includes two hinge plates or leaves 22 and 24pivotally connected by a pin 26. Projecting laterally of and secured tothe hinge leaf 22 is an electrically nonconductive sleeve 28 in which ismounted a metallic plug or electrical contact element 30. The insulatingsleeve 28 extends into a complementary aperture 32 in the door member16. The free extremity of the member 30 is suitably coupled with anelectrical conductor 34, as by means of a crimped sleeve device 31. Aninsulating sleeve 36 is secured to and projects laterally of the hingeleaf 24 into an opening 38 of the frame 18. A metallic contact member orplunger 40 is longitudinally shiftable within the sleeve 36. A coilspring 42 encircles a reduced extremity of the shiftable contact member40. When the hinge leaves 22 and 24 occupy the door closing positionshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, of the contact member or plug 30, the spring 42is compressed and thus serves to maintain good electrical contactbetween the members 30 and 40. The free extremity of the contact member40 is coupled in any suitable manner with an electrical conductor 44, asby means of a crimped sleeve device 46. Outward movement of the contactmember 40 is limited by the abutment of the extremity of the couplingsleeve device 46 with the extremity of the sleeve 36.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the door member 16 isin closed position the contact members 30 and 40 will function to closethe electrical circuit of which the conductors 34 and 44 form a part.Such a circuit could include a signaling device or other electricallycontrolled mechanism (not shown). Also, as illustrated in FIG. 2, aplurality of circuit controlling devices could be mounted in the doormember 16 and the door frame 18, to accommodate a variety of electricalcircuits.

In FIGS. 5 to 10 inclusive a modified form of hinge device 12a is shown.The elements of the hinge device 12a, corresponding with the elements ofthe previously described hinge device 12, are designated by likenumerals bearing the suffix (a). Whereas the previously described hingedevice 12 employs the contact elements 30 and 40, the hinge device 12aincorporates a Microswitch mechanism designated generally by the numeral48. The switch mechanism 48 is suitably mounted upon a hinge leaf 24a bymean of a bracket 50. As the hinge plate or leaf 22a moves from open toclosed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively, saidplate engages the projecting extremity of an electrically nonconductingor insulating pin 40a, so as to close the switch mechanism 48 bydeflecting a yieldable switch element 52. Terminal members54'are adaptedto accommodate electrical conductors (not shown).

In FIG. I I, a slightly modified switch mechanism 48b is illustratedwherein the switch housing is mounted flush with a hinge plate 24b. Abutton or pin 40b forming an element of the switch mechanism is engagedby the other hinge plate 22b as said plate approaches its door closingposition. Depression of the button 40b effects actuation of the switchmechanism 48b.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the presentinvention contemplates the provision of an improved and unique hingedevice for swinging doors which is adapted to control an electricalcircuit. Obviously such electrical circuits may be designed for use in awide variety of environments, as for example for signaling the open andclosed condition of a swinging door at a remote location. The structuralsimplicity of the hinge device contemplated by the present inventionenables'the economical production thereof. The embodiments of theinvention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, incorporatecylindrical contact members which are composed of electricallyconductive metallic material, and hence require the use ofthe sleeves 28and 36 to electrically insulate the contact members 30 and 40 from themetallic hinge plates 22 and 24, respectively. However, when the switchmechanisms 48 and 48b are employed, the shiftable cylindrical members40a and 40b are electrically nonconductive, and it is unnecessary toequip the hinge plates 22a and'22b with the cylindrical contact member30 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive. This obviously makes forsimplicity in design and requires only slight movement of the doormember to effect closing of the switch mechanisms 48 and 48b.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An electrical circuit control hinge device including first and secondpivotally connected hinge plates, the first of said plates beingapertured to accommodate fastener elements such as screw members forattachment to the vertical edge of a swingable door member and thesecond being apertured to accommodate fastener elements such as screwmembers for attachment in a fixed position upon a vertical door frame,electrical circuit control means mounted on said second hinge plateincluding an electrically nonconductive control member projectable fromthe exposed surface of said second hinge plate and shiftabletransverselyof said second hinge plate as an incident to the approach thereto ofsaid first hinge plate, means for connecting said control means with anelectrical conductor, and means for biasing said control member towardthe projecting position thereof.

2. An electrical circuit control hinge device as set forth in claim 1,electrical circuit control means includes switch means operable as anincident to the movement of said electrically nonconductive shiftablemember.

3. An electrical circuit control hinge device as set forth in claim 1,wherein said electrical circuit control means includes a switch springadapted to be engaged and moved by said electrically nonconductiveshiftable member.

1. An electrical circuit control hinge device including first and secondpivotally connected hinge plates, the first of said plates beingapertured to accommodate fastener elements such as screw members forattachment to the vertical edge of a swingable door member and thesecond being apertured to accommodate fastener elements such as screwmembers for attachment in a fixed position upon a vertical door frame,electrical circuit control means mounted on said second hinge plateincluding an electrically nonconductive control member projectable fromthe exposed surface of said second hinge plate and shiftabletransversely of said second hinge plate as an incident to the approachthereto of said first hinge plate, means for connecting said controlmeans with an electrical conductor, and means for biasing said controlmember toward the projecting position thereof.
 2. An electrical circuitcontrol hinge device as set forth in claim 1, electrical circuit controlmeans includes switch means operable as an incident to the movement ofsaid electrically nonconductive shiftable member.
 3. An electricalcircuit control hinge device as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidelectrical circuit control means includes a switch spring adapted to beengaged and moved by said electrically nonconductive shiftable member.